Faith Foundations. Catechism Lessons The Basic Truths of the Bible COURSE ONE. Teacher s Guide. Northwestern Publishing House Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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1 Faith Foundations Catechism Lessons The Basic Truths of the Bible COURSE ONE Teacher s Guide Northwestern Publishing House Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2 Adapted from Catechism Lessons by Adolph Fehlauer Project Director: Owen Dorn Writing/Editing Team: Michael Albrecht, Steven Bilitz, Lynn Groth, Donald Helwig, Rev. Raymond Schumacher Art Director: Karen Knutson Design Team: Paula Brouwer, Pamela Dunn, Lynda Williams Illustrator: Len Ebert Authorized by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. The NIV and New International Version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society. Hymn and hymnal references, unless otherwise indicated, are to Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal. Copyright 1993 by Northwestern Publishing House. Enchiridion is quoted from Luther s Catechism: Revised. Copyright 1998 by Northwestern Publishing House. Northwestern Publishing House 1250 N. 113th St., Milwaukee, WI by Northwestern Publishing House Published 2007 Printed in the United States of America ISBN: All rights reserved. Except where noted, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise except for brief quotations in reviews, without prior permission from the publisher. Printed with soy inks on recycled paper.

3 CONTENTS Page Introduction...v Teaching the Lesson...vi Lessons 1. The Bible: Our Most Important Book The Two Great Teachings of the Bible...10 The Ten Commandments 3. Fear God above All Things Love God above All Things Trust God above All Things God s Name Cursing and Swearing by God s Name Do Not Misuse God s Name The Right Use of God s Name The Sabbath Day Don t Despise God s Word Gladly Hear and Learn God s Holy Word...80 Review 1 Lessons God s Representatives Sinning against God s Representatives Honoring God s Representatives God Protects Human Life Our Neighbor s Welfare Marriage Sins of Adultery A Pure and Decent Life Our Property and Income Stealing Money and Property Helping Our Neighbor False Testimony against Our Neighbor Protecting Our Neighbor s Name and Reputation Sinful Desires of Our Hearts Helping Our Neighbor Keep All That Is His Review 2 Lessons God s Warning God s Promises The Three Uses of God s Law iii

4 contents Page The Apostles Creed 31. God the Creator God Takes Care of His Creation Our Appreciation for God s Goodness The Person of Jesus Christ The Threefold Office of Christ The Work of Christ Our Redemption Jesus Exaltation The Purpose of Our Redemption The Holy Spirit The Work of the Holy Spirit The Holy Christian Church Recognizing a True Visible Church Forgiveness of Sins Good Works The Resurrection and Eternal Life Review 3 Lessons Baptism 47. The Sacrament of Holy Baptism The Blessings of Baptism The Power of Baptism The Meaning of Baptism for Us The Use of the Keys and Confession 51. The Ministry of the Keys The Congregation s Use of the Keys Confession The Sacrament of Holy Communion and the Means of Grace 54. Holy Communion The Blessings of Holy Communion The Power of Holy Communion Preparation for Holy Communion The Means of Grace Review 4 Lessons iv

5 INTRODUCTION Faith Foundations is a two-year catechism course designed especially for fifth- and sixth-grade students. Introducing your students to the catechism marks an important step in their lives. A detailed topical study of the basic truths of the Bible is important for several reasons: Whenever God s Word is taught, the Holy Spirit works to strengthen faith. The students will grow in the knowledge of God s grace. As they do, they will see clearly that the treasure found at the cross is far more valuable than the false treasures that catch the world s attention. The students are provided a strong footing in a world of crumbling values. The students will grow to be lights that show the way to God in a world that stumbles in darkness. The students will be prepared to answer those who ask them to give a reason for the hope they have in Christ. The students will be prepared to pass on God s truths as they teach their own children. Martin Luther saw the use of the catechism as a lifelong study. As for myself, let me say this. I too am a doctor and a preacher. In fact, I am as educated and experienced as any of those who have all that nerve and brazen selfconfidence. Yet I continue to do as a child does that is being taught the Catechism. Mornings, and when I otherwise have time, I read and recite word for word the Lord s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, Psalms, etc. I must still read and study the Catechism daily, yet I cannot master it as I would like, but must remain a child and student of the Catechism. This I do gladly.* *Luther s Large Catechism: A Contemporary Translation with Study Questions, F. Samuel Janzow, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1978, page 6. One of the goals of these classes is to inspire such a lifelong desire to study the precious truths of God s Word. It is also our goal that as students study the Word, they will grow in their ability to apply the truths of Scripture to their lives. To aid in that goal, the lessons found in Faith Foundations have been set in the context of real life. Jesus, our master teacher, used stories extensively in his teaching. These lessons do too. Stories draw the attention of the students. Stories help students understand that our lessons aren t just about abstract truths. They are truths that mend broken lives and that give hope where there otherwise would be none. Stories can also make an emotional connection between the lesson the students are learning and the lives they are experiencing. The lesson introductions and applications often use stories to show how important the truths of Scripture are to us as we live in a world corrupted by sin and tarnished by our own sinful desires. You will notice that these lessons also utilize higher level questions. Rather than simply asking the students to repeat details that have been stated in a passage, the questions challenge them to apply the message of the passage to the things that hypothetical people do and say. Most teachers recognize the importance of guiding students to higher levels of thinking. As students think things through, they see more clearly what God s Word means for their daily lives. They also remember more of what they have studied. Because many teachers encourage higher level thinking, many students will be comfortable with those kinds of questions. However, if students aren t accustomed to higher level questions, it may take several lessons for them to gain the confidence to express their thoughts. Be patient. Don t let periods of silence bother you. The privilege God gives you as a teacher to guide children to build their lives on the solid foundation of Jesus is awesome. Don t shortchange the students by giving them the impression that religious training is just a history lesson or consists of memorizing some given facts. v

6 You have the privilege of showing the students that God s Word is life eternal life. And that possessing eternal life affects every aspect of their lives. You have the privilege of helping the students see their whole lives in the shadow of the cross to see that no matter how difficult or challenging their lives may be at times, rooms have been reserved for them in God s heavenly kingdom; to see that no matter how sin has marred their lives, they know that in Jesus they are forgiven and in Jesus they are able to forgive others. Teaching the Lesson The teacher s guide has been formatted with convenience as the main goal. Lesson Overview Each lesson begins by listing Today s Question, Key Points that lead to the answer to that question, and the Summary that answers it. Suggested memory treasures are listed under the heading Let s Remember. Be careful not to overload students with memory treasures. Keep in mind that Lutheran elementary school students are already memorizing passages in Bible history classes. Opening and Closing Devotions The suggested devotions are related to the focus of the lesson. Use them as written or adapt them to your style. Lesson The teacher s guide contains the student lesson pages with the answers added. All but Lessons 1, 2, and 58 begin with the enchiridion element that contains the focus of the lesson. The segment of this enchiridion element on which the lesson focuses is in bold print. For example, Lesson 3 focuses on fearing God above all things. The First Commandment appears as follows: The First Commandment You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things. Note that all lessons contain the basic lesson elements listed under Lesson Overview. However, the headings for these elements have often been omitted to enhance the flow of the lessons. Artwork With the exception of review lessons, each lesson includes an illustration that relates to a specific lesson element. Use this visual to teach that element. Remember that many students are visual learners. Break It Up Research has shown that students retain more if lessons are taught in shorter segments. For that reason, we have included a Break It Up activity. Using this activity may take some valuable class time, but using it may very likely help students retain more of what is taught in each segment of your lesson. Options In order to provide greater flexibility in teaching the lesson, a page of options is provided. For most lessons, an optional introduction is available as well as additional questions. Occasionally illustrations are also provided. Several activities on the Options page include handouts for the students. These handouts can be found as PDF files on the Copy Master CD. Look for the Options folder. Connections This copy master includes three sections: a review of the lesson, a family interaction, and a look ahead to the next lesson. 1. The review encourages the students to reexamine the concepts taught in the lesson and applies the lesson to new situations so that the teacher can test understanding. 2. With Your Family reinforces the truth that parents are the primary Christian educators by requiring parent-child interaction. This interaction is vital. Don t be discouraged if it doesn t always happen as well as you hoped. Look for ways to encourage these discussions. This is an important section that nurtures spiritual growth through the Word you are presenting beyond the walls of your classroom into the home and could have eternal results. 3. Looking Ahead prepares students for the next lesson. vi

7 The Connections copy masters are provided as PDF files on the Copy Master CD. Look for the Connections folder. Permission is granted to duplicate the Connections pages from the Teacher s Guide for the teacher s classroom use only. Alternate Strategy In order to provide variety for the lessons, an alternate strategy is provided for teaching each lesson. These strategies utilize a variety of teaching methods to present the content of the lessons. You may prefer to use the alternate strategies on a regular basis. Or you may occasionally choose one that is particularly appealing to introduce greater variety into the teaching process. The alternate strategies are provided as PDF files on the Copy Master CD. Look for the Alternate Strategy folder. Permission is granted to duplicate the Alternate Strategy pages from the Teacher s Guide for the teacher s classroom use only. Review Four review lessons are provided for Course 1. They are included in the Teacher s Guide and on the Copy Master CD as PDF and RTF files. Look for the Review folder. vii

8 1 Lesson The Bible: Our Most Important Book Lesson Overview Today s Question Why is the Bible the most important book we ll ever read? Key Points 1.The Bible is God s Holy Word. 2.The Bible tells us who the true God is. 3.The Bible tells us how we are saved. Summary The Bible is the most important book because it is God s Holy Word, which tells us who God is and how we are saved. Pronounce correctly the names of the 66 books of the Bible. Opening Devotion Song Speak, O Savior; I Am Listening Hymn 283 In our hymn today, we ask our Lord to help us respect and honor his Holy Word. Scripture Reading Psalm 119: In this, the longest chapter of the Bible (176 verses!), the psalmist speaks about his love for the Word of God. When he uses the word law, we can understand that to mean all the Scriptures. As we read these verses responsively, let s think about why we love God s Word too. Prayer Dear Father in heaven, what a blessing to begin our day with your most precious Word. Please give us the desire to meditate on it all day long. Help us to treasure it, obey it, and consider it sweeter than honey. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Closing Song How Precious Is the Book Divine Hymn 284 This hymn reminds us why the Bible is the best book we ll ever read. Prayer Dear Father, thank you for this very special book, the Bible. Thank you for the opportunities you ve given us to learn who you are and how you have saved us through your Son, Jesus. Help us to keep your Word in our minds, believe your Word in our hearts, and obey your Word in our lives. Amen. Lesson 1 1

9 1 Lesson The Bible: Our Most Important Book Read the Instruction Manual are going to answer the question, Why is the Bible the most important book we ll ever read? Option: Substitute the introduction on page 6. A Special Author 1. According to 2 Peter 1:21, who wrote the Bible? Men who spoke from God wrote the Bible: prophets (such as Moses, Isaiah, and David), evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), and apostles (such as Paul and Peter). Note that the evangelists Matthew and John were also apostles. Can you think of a time when you needed to use an instruction manual to do something? Perhaps building a model or putting together a toy that needed some assembly. An instruction manual can be very important. For an airplane pilot, the plane s operation manual is a very important book. It tells the speed the plane has to travel on the ground before it can take off safely, the speed the plane has to fly in order to stay in the air, and the speed the plane has to be flying in order to land safely. Following the instructions of the operation manual is a matter of life and death for a pilot. The Bible is even more important than a plane s operation manual. It contains very important truths that we need to know for life on earth and eternal life in heaven. Today we 2. Who told these men what to write? God the Holy Spirit told them when to write and controlled what they wrote. This is called verbal inspiration. 3. Whose Word, then, is the Bible? The Bible is God s Word. God himself speaks to us in the Bible Some people say that the Bible contains God s Word but that it also contains words humans have added. They say that we have to try to figure out which words are from God and which come from human origin. How does 2 Timothy 3:16 show that their belief is wrong? All Scripture is God-breathed, or inspired. We can trust that all of the Bible is from God. In John 17:17, what did Jesus say about God s Word? Jesus said God s Word is truth. There are no errors, lies, or half-truths in Scripture. Lesson 1-1 2

10 In 2 Timothy 3:15 God s Word is called the 6. Scriptures. In this passage, what one word describes the Scriptures? Holy pure, without a flaw. Since the author of the Bible is the Holy Spirit, every word in the Bible is holy. 7. Juan was telling his friend Pete some things he had learned from the Bible in vacation Bible school. His friend responded, The Bible says a lot of good things, but we can t expect it to be right about everything because it was written so long ago. If you were Juan, what would you say to Pete? All of the Bible is absolutely true in every thought and every word. We know this because God gave the words to the men who wrote it and he doesn t make mistakes. Jesus himself said to the Father, Your word is truth (John 17:17). Option: Add questions 7.1 and 7.2 on page The Bible is God s Word. Why might you find special comfort in that fact when a.you find out your grandfather has been diagnosed with cancer? You know from God s Word that you can pray to God for help, that God loves you, and that he has the power to help. And if God chooses not to heal the cancer, you have confidence in God s own promise that if your grandfather dies with faith, he will be with God forever. b.your conscience bothers you because of a sin you have committed? You can trust that Jesus died to take away your sin and that God loves you, not because of who you are or what you have done but because of what Jesus has done. Option: Add question 8.1 on page 6. The Bible is God s Holy Word. Option: Use the Break It Up activity on page 6. An Essential Message When Kelly asked her friend why she had several candles burning outside on the window ledge, her friend answered, My father is very sick. I believe that there is a god who can help him. But I don t know who I should pray to. By putting these candles outside, I m hoping that he will see the candles and listen to my prayer. After hearing her friend, Kelly realized how important it is to know who the true God is. Psalm 19:1 says that the wonders of 9. nature, such as the stars in the heavens, tell us something about God. What do they tell us? They tell us that there is a God and that he is wise (he created a very complicated universe) and powerful (he created and continues to care for the world). 10. What doesn t nature tell us about God? Nature doesn t tell us what we need to know about God who he is and what he has done to save us. Lesson 1-2 3

11 What is the only way we can learn what we need to know about God? Only in the Bible can we learn who God is and what he has done for us. What do the following passages tell us about God? a.deuteronomy 6:4 He is one. There is only one true God. b.psalm 90:2 He is everlasting. The Bible tells us who the true God is. A Precious Truth One day as you and your friend are talking about death and dying, your friend confesses, I m afraid to die. God probably hates me because of some of the bad things I ve done. What is the most important thing you 14. could do to help your friend? Tell your friend what the Bible tells us about eternal life through Jesus sacrifice, which saves us all from hell. c. Matthew 28:19 He is triune. The true God is three persons but only one God. d.john 3:16 He loves us so much that he gave his Son to die for us and to give us eternal life. 15. John 20:31 tells us why God gave us the Bible. Why did he? God gave us the Bible so that we may believe in Jesus as our Savior and have life in his name. Note that we often sing these words during worship (hymnal page 40). Option: Add question 12.1 on page Your friend feels she doesn t have to go to church. She says she feels very close to God when she s outside enjoying nature and that s good enough. What would you say to her? Nature does help us recognize that there must be a god; however, it doesn t show us who the true God is. Only the Bible shows us who the true God is. One reason we go to church is to learn about the true God from the Word. We also go to church to worship the true God for creating us, blessing us, and redeeming us. Second Timothy 3:15 speaks of the special 16. message we learn from the Bible. What is that special message? We learn what no other book in the world can tell us God s wonderful plan to save all people through faith in his Son. 17. Evaluate these statements: a.i read the Bible to learn about history. We learn much about the history of God s people in the Bible, but the main purpose of the Bible is to tell us who God is and how we are saved. Lesson 1-3 4

12 b.i read the Bible as a great literary work. The Bible is full of great stories and poetry, but the main purpose of the Bible is to tell us who God is and how we are saved. c. I read the Bible as a good guide for daily living. The Bible, especially the Ten Commandments, is a good guide for living, but the main purpose for the Bible is to tell us who God is and how we are saved. The Bible tells us how we are saved. I know someone who loves inline skating because it s fun and good exercise. I know someone who loves video games because there is a lot of action and the games challenge her skills. I know someone who loves pets because they are cute and they give love back. We have several reasons for loving the Bible. It is the most important book we will ever read. List the reasons from today s lesson. 1.The Bible is God s Holy Word. 2.The Bible tells us who the true God is. 3.The Bible tells us how we are saved. Summary The Bible is the most important book because it is God s Holy Word, which tells us who God is and how we are saved. Pronounce correctly the names of the 66 books of the Bible. Lesson 1-4 5

13 1 Lesson Options Introduction Show and tell the students about a book you ve read recently. Ask the students what their favorite books are. What makes a book really good? An exciting plot, interesting characters, a certain writing style. There are many good books in the world, but one book is better than all the other books combined. This book was written over the course of 1,600 years (1500 B.C. to A.D. 100). It s been translated into more than a thousand different languages and dialects, and it s read throughout the world. That book, of course, is the Bible. Today we ll answer this question: Why is the Bible the most important book we ll ever read? Questions 7.1 Why is it dangerous to believe that some things in the Bible may not be true, even if they seem to be unimportant details? Such an attitude allows people to pick and choose what they want to believe or to ignore. They may say, The Bible is right about Jesus dying on the cross but not about his feeding the five thousand. People can t perform miracles like that. Then, if they begin to question that one truth, soon they may doubt other things that the Bible says even that their sins are forgiven through Jesus sacrifice. 7.2 Hold up a dictionary or encyclopedia and read a sentence or two. Is this an important and useful book? Yes. Yet how are books like encyclopedias and dictionaries different from God s book, the Bible? Encyclopedias and dictionaries contain the thoughts and words of human beings, but the Bible contains the very words of God. Encyclopedias may contain errors, but the Bible is true in every word and thought. For the most part, encyclopedias give us knowledge only about earthly things, but the Bible tells us about spiritual, eternal matters. 8.1 Jesus called the devil the father of lies. Who is the father of truth? God. Why is this statement important to us? It means that we can trust that everything God tells us is true. He keeps all his promises. We are his children. We are forgiven. Heaven is ours. God is not a man, that he should lie (Numbers 23:19) These passages (question 12) tell us that God is everlasting, that he is three persons in one God, and that he loves us and gives us eternal life in Christ. Tell some other things you know about God from the Bible. Write the students responses on the board. Some examples: God is wise, all-knowing, present everywhere, holy, just, faithful, good, compassionate, gracious, loving, forgiving. Emphasize that we could only learn these things from the Bible. Break It Up Divide the class into two teams. Have the first person from each team go to the board and write the name of the first book of the Bible. (Because many of the students may never have memorized the books of the Bible, you can let them have their Bibles open while they are waiting their turns. However, they shouldn t take their Bibles to the board with them. While one person is at the board, the others can memorize the spellings of the books of the Bible they will write.) After writing the name of the first book of the Bible, the first student hurries back and gives the marker to the second person and so on. The first team done gets four points. Each team then gets an additional point for each book that is spelled correctly. Connections The additional Connections copy master about the life of Martin Luther is included on the Copy Master CD. Look in the Connections folder. The file name is 01bConnection.c1.pdf. It can be used as a supplement to this first lesson or at any time the teacher chooses. Lesson 1 6

14 1 Lesson Connections The Bible: Our Most Important Book A book collector was admitted to the hospital. When his wife asked if there was anything she could bring him, he answered, Yes. Please bring my most important book. 1. What do you think that book might have been? (What is the most important book you own?) The Bible. 2. Why would he call the Bible his most important book? The Bible is God s Holy Word, which tells us who he is and how we are saved. 3. What do we know about the author of the Bible that makes it special? The Bible had many writers but only one author: God. The writers Moses and the prophets, the apostles and the evangelists wrote by divine inspiration. 4. What is the term we use for God s giving men the very thoughts and words they should write? Verbal inspiration. With Your Family 1. One person says, I just couldn t live without the Internet. It gives me tons of information for school projects. Another person says, I couldn t live without a telephone. I have to talk with my friends. Have each family member finish this statement: I couldn t live without the Bible because... Write two of the answers. Possible answer:... it tells me not just earthly facts but the truths of God s Word, who God is, and how he saved me through Jesus. I like the Internet too, but the Bible is the book I could never live without. 2. If we were to rate the importance of God s Word on a scale of 1 to 10, we would give it a 10. As a family, discuss this question: How do we show that we value God s Word that much? Lead them to see how they may show that the Word is valuable by taking it to heart, by studying it every day, and by looking forward to hearing it in church and studying it in class. 3. Luke 11:28 and John 5:39 help us see how we are to use God s Word. How can we, as a family and as individuals, grow in the way we use God s Word? Write down several of the answers your family members give. We are to diligently (persistently, tirelessly) study the Word because the Word tells us about Jesus. And in Luke, Jesus tells us to listen to it and then obey it let our lives show that we believe what the Bible says. We can grow by setting aside time to read the Bible or devotions together. Each of us can also set aside time to read the Bible. We might set a goal of reading one or two chapters each day, or we might review the catechism each day. Looking Ahead 1. Read Exodus 20:3-17. What did God give Moses? God gave Moses the law, specifically the Ten Commandments, on two stone tablets. 2. Read John 3:1-21. Which verse contains very good news for Nicodemus and for all people of the world? John 3:16 tells us, God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Lesson 1 7 This page may be reproduced for classroom use only.

15 1 Lesson Connections The Life of Luther Martin Luther is one of the great men in the history of the world. Through Luther, God again gave the world the complete and pure teaching of the Bible. Luther lived about five hundred years ago. He was born November 10, At that time, almost all the people in Europe belonged to the Roman Catholic Church, led by the pope in Rome. Some of the Catholic Church s teachings were not in agreement with the Bible. For instance, the church taught that people must do many good works and pray to the saints in order to be saved. The church also told the people not to read the Bible but to obey the pope and the priests. Growing up, Luther thought of Jesus as a strict, unloving judge. Luther thought he could never do enough good works to please God. He thought he was going to go to hell. Luther became a priest and then a professor at the college in Wittenberg. He began to study the Bible, and there he read that people could not be saved by their own works but only by trusting in Jesus as their Savior from sin. Luther wanted to share this information with everyone and change, or reform, the church. The event that began the Reformation took place on October 31, A monk named Tetzel had been selling indulgences, which were pieces of paper that people could buy which said that their sins were forgiven. Luther wrote 95 theses, or statements, about obtaining forgiveness from God alone, not from buying indulgences. He nailed the Ninety-five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. Luther s paper was copied and distributed all over Europe and even reached the pope. The pope told Luther he had to take back what he said, but Luther would not, because he knew that what he had said was the truth of the Bible. The pope then excommunicated Luther (forced him out of the church), and the emperor gave orders that Luther should be arrested and even killed. Luther s friends hid Luther for ten months in the Wartburg Castle. There Luther began translating the Bible into German so more people could read it. After Luther came out of hiding, he continued to write, preach, and teach at the University. He published many sermons, hymns, and other writings. One of his writings is the Small Catechism. He wrote this summary of the main teachings of the Bible to help parents teach the Bible to their children. Luther lived to be 62 years old. He was married to a woman named Katherine, and they had six children. After he died on February 18, 1546, he was buried at the Castle Church in Wittenberg, where he had posted the Ninety-five Theses. Luther died believing that salvation is God s free gift by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior. 1. Luther had grown up believing he had to do many good works to be saved. This was what the Roman Catholic Church taught the people. When Luther studied the Bible on his own, he discovered what the Bible really taught. What did he discover? People are not saved by good works but by faith in Jesus, who died for them. 2. Why did Luther write the Small Catechism? To help parents teach the Bible to their children. 3. Read Ephesians 6:4. Explain how Luther s reason for writing the catechism showed his understanding of this verse. He knew that it is the parents responsibility to teach their children. 4. Read 2 Timothy 3:15. What tool are parents to use to instruct their children? The Holy Scriptures, the Word of God. This additional Connections copy master about the life of Martin Luther is included on the Copy Master CD. Look in the Connections folder. The file name is 01bConnection.c1.pdf. Lesson 1 8 This page may be reproduced for classroom use only.

16 The Bible: Our Most Important Book Procedures for a TV game show type game: Draw a game board with four columns on the board or overhead. Label each column according to the categories listed below. Divide the class into groups of four. Give each group a worksheet containing all the questions and Bible references for the upcoming game. Each group will have ten minutes to find as many answers as possible. Have the class reconvene after ten minutes. A player from Team One picks a category and point value. (Students may jump from category to category, but questions have to be taken in point value order: 10, then 20, then 30, etc.) If the player answers correctly, that team receives the points. Running team scores are kept on the board or an overhead. A player from Team Two then chooses a category and point value, and play continues this way until all the questions have been asked. Players take turns answering questions for their respective teams. They may use their Bibles at any time, but they have only 15 seconds to answer the question. Clarify and add pertinent information to any students answers. After the 50 point (or last) question in each category is asked and answered, write the key point for that category on the board and have the students copy it into their notebooks. (Not all categories will lead to a key point.) At the end of the game, allow the teams one minute to meet and formulate an answer to an application question. Award bonus points for a correct response. These procedures may also be adapted for future alternate catechism lesson plans. Categories, Questions, and Answers CATEGORY ONE Who Wrote the Bible? (Use 2 Peter 1:21 for all questions.) 10 pt: Who told men what to write? God the Holy Spirit. 20 pt: The Bible is whose Word? God s. 30 pt: How many mistakes are in the Bible? None. 40 pt: Name one person whom God used to write the Bible. Many responses, teacher can give additional names. 50 pt: Summarize what 2 Peter 1:21 tells us about the teaching we call verbal inspiration. God told men what to write. CATEGORY THREE Facts about the Bible 10 pt: What does John 17:17 say the Bible is? Truth. 20 pt: What does 2 Timothy 3:16 say the Bible is? God-breathed. 30 pt: What does 2 Timothy 3:15 say the Bible is? Holy. 40 pt: Why do we call the Scriptures holy? They are pure, without mistakes. 50 pt: Why is it dangerous to believe that the Bible may contain a few mistakes? Accept all reasonable answers. (Key Point) The Bible is God s Holy Word. CATEGORY TWO Our God What do these passages tell us about God? 10 pt: Deuteronomy 6:4 He is One. 20 pt: Psalm 19:1 He is our Creator, or he is wise and powerful. 30 pt: Psalm 90:2 He is everlasting. 40 pt: Matthew 28:19 He is triune. 50 pt: What can nature not tell us about God? Who the true God is and how he saved us. (Key Point) The Bible tells us who the true God is. CATEGORY FOUR Most Precious Truth 10 pt: According to John 20:31, why did God give us the Bible? So that we may believe. 20 pt: According to 2 Timothy 3:15, why did God give us the Bible? So that we learn God s wonderful plan of salvation. 30 pt: According to John 3:16, why did God give us the Bible? So that we can learn why he sent Jesus and how we are saved. 40 pt: What can the Bible tell us that no other book can? How God loves us and saved us through his Son, Jesus. 50 pt: What is the main purpose of the Bible? It tells us how we are saved. (Key Point) The Bible tells us how we are saved. Bonus Application Question Describe some situations in which you would find special comfort in knowing that the Bible is God s Holy Word. Accept all reasonable responses. Alternate Strategy: Lesson 1 9 This page may be reproduced for classroom use only.